THE SWALLOWS. 85 



sure that one stayed in its place on the rail till almost 

 the last moment. I tried to make myself acquainted 

 with each, but a shout from the swimmers and bathers 

 would draw my attention to them just at a critical 

 time, and I could not be perfectly sure the flyers did 

 not change places. What might a real bird student 

 have done, if he had been interested to know the 

 swallow's ways.^ 



He might have searched the little island over to 

 learn where this family went when the lesson ended, 

 and seen what they did the next day, and the next ; 

 and if he had watched and studied with heart as well 

 as eyes, there might have been something to give to 

 bird-lovers in a poem or story. This is what is being 

 done to make Bird World better understood. 



THE DEPARTURE OF THE SWALLOW. 



And is the swallow gone ? So the freed spirit flies ! 

 Who beheld it ? From its surrounding clay 



Which way sailed it ? It steals away, 



Farewell bade it none ? Like the swallow from the skies. 



No mortal saw it go : Whither } wherefore doth it go .? 



But who doth hear 'T is all unknown ; 



Its summer cheer We feel alone 



As it flitteth to and fro ? That a void is left below, 



William Howitt. 



